I just bought this truck ('99 with 100K on it) over the weekend. I had no idea what needed to be serviced (previous owner was selling it for his son who is out of the country) so I had all fluids and a few other things replaced on it, as recommended here on this forum a few days ago.

- Oil change (synthetic)
- Transmission flush
- Front and rear differentials
- Transfer case
- New fuel filter
- New serpentine belt (it was cracked pretty bad)
- IM and inspection.

Apparently, I only have about three months left on the rear breaks before they need to be replaced and it'll need a tune-up pretty soon as well.

Good grief, I just bought this truck and it's getting pretty expensive. Just about everything I did today was preventative maintenance to make sure the truck keeps running for a long time, so I don't feel too bad about spending the money.

 

Oh, forgot to mention that I also had the air filter replaced and the rear brakes "adjusted" so it would pass inspection.

Sheesh!

 

new **** helps....simple. when buying a used truck expect to drop money into it... you will need brakes, plugs(to find out how engine is running) and endless other things... good luck everytime i go wheeling might cost about 300 bucks... if i dont fry my pullys bearings its flooding my diffs with water, brokes cv's or other stuff lol

 

Nice work, but it does get expensive "having things done". If I can speak for the forum, MOST of us do our own work, especially the kind of stuff you mentioned (minus the auto tranny flush).

When you replace the spark plugs, take note of each's position.

Notice if their part numbers are different from each side of the engine. If they are, those were probably factory original and way DUE for replacement.

Noting their position and condition can clue you to a problem in that cylinder.

Preventive maintenance pays off in the long run.

 

Yeah, I wish I could have done it myself but I just don't have the mechanical know-how or even the time to do it myself. Guess it's time to learn how to do these things and make the time because it wasn't cheap.

 

Auto-tranny flushes are actually really really easy. Just disconnect the hoses at the tranny cooler and then add fluid as the fluids coming out until the color matches the new fluid.

 

Well a truck needs to be serviced to keep it running for a long time. How much did you pay for all that maintenance work? Good job

 

its time that keeps me from doing my own

 

yeah atleast you dident buy an 04 and then drive it out of warentee a month later and the motor blows up.. could be worse, i spent 13grand ont he truck (even trade, swaped my loan) and then ford charged me 4grand for a new motor.. (dont exspect to pay 4 grand i got some "help" from the ford dealership cause they felt bad i was like 200 miles out fo warentee) they wanted 7grand for the motor....

 

Wow. Sorry to hear that. Glad it worked out, though.

 

yeah it kinda worked out now i have to pay off that credit card lol, cant wait to see how long the trany hold up.. if i need to replace that i might just drive it into a tree and collect insurence..